HMS Cavalier - History

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jbryce1437
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HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

HMS Cavalier is a C Class Destroyer and was one of 96 emergency class destroyers built in World War 2.
She was launched at the Samuel White and Company shipyard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 7th April 1944 and was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 22nd November 1944. She was one of the first ships welded forward and aft, with the midships section rivetted for added strength. She served with the Home Fleet after commissioning and was despatched to the Far East in 1945 and served with the British Pacific Fleet, paying off into reserve in May 1946.
She was later modernised and brought back into service in 1957 and served with the 8th Destroyer Squadron at Singapore. She was decommissioned in 1972 and was laid up at Portsmouth. She was bought by the Cavalier Trust and moved to Southampton, then Brighton. She was earmarked to be central exhibit at a National Shipbuilding Exhibition on the River Tyne and was moved to Hebburn in 1987. The project failed to materialise as expected and, faced with mounting annual maintenance cost for her, she was sold by South Tyneside Council and was sold to Chatham Historic Dockyard in 1998, where she currently sits in No 2 dry dock.
She is open to visitors and further details about her can be found here:

http://thedockyard.co.uk/explore/three- ... -cavalier/

hms cavalier[1].jpg
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HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
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ivorthediver
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Great place to visit and the rope sheds at chatham to .

Not wishing to sound like a recording stuck in its track but I posted Dozens of these on the WNSF , a few years ago .

A great example if you get there early enough , and well displayed , but have they managed to go down yet as I think there were only two deck levels accessible , but what I saw I thoroughly enjoyed and Ocelot alongside . was also worthy of a visit to, but allow plenty of time , I went on two occasions and still didn't see all I wanted to see ,so I stress..... allow plenty of time
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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Pelican
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

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THE RACE IN THE AGE OF STEAM

Dear All, it’s a quiet afternoon here so I watched this 9 minute film again to lift my spirits; then I wanted to share it. This is an edited, by me, version of the 20 minute poor quality, but stirring, silent film in the IWM archives of the 1970? full power trial of HMS Cavalier and HMS Rapid, both 1943 emergency destroyers, both in late middle age, both giving it absolutely all they have got, and more. Cavalier won by having 20 feet of her focsle ahead of Rapid, this after 63 miles of hard steaming. If you are not moved by this, you are not old enough!

273 revolutions, 32.6 kts, with feeling.

I know some of you have seen it before, but its worth watching over and over.

See - https://vimeo.com/277260483

Above from Tim.

Note that TTL was 1st Flotilla/Squadron Gunnery Officer in Chequers, a sister ship of Cavalier in the late 1940s early 1950s when she was in the Med. fleet. Attached is Chequers in Sliema creek dressed overall for Q.B. in 1951.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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ivorthediver
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

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Thank you David , :idea: Question ......what is causing the shadow towards the top of the starboard hull side before the first scuttle adjacent ? please ......is obviously some form of projection causing that shadow but cant work out what it could be
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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Pelican
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

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H.M.S. CAVALIER

Dear All,

This little clip popped into my news box this morning which I thought you might all enjoy; the chap claiming a convincing win in the Great Race was gilding his lily a bit, Cavalier won by just about a focsle length after Rapid lifted a safety valve, the race was approx. 60 miles long, it was done when both ships were meant to take their annual full-power trial. Here is the clip;-

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/f ... ory=foryou

And here is my link to the 9 minute film of the Great Race itself, this was silent and about 18 minutes long, I have added a bit of music contemporary and appropriate to the time of the Race after editing out all the shots of people’s feet, chair legs, deck rivets and other extraneous rubbish, whoever actually won doesn’t really matter, its just wonderful to see these two old ships, both 1943 launched, thundering along at 32 knots during their annual full power trial. Having enjoyed time as a teenager is Urchin, a 1943 sister ship to Rapid (Type 15 fast A/S frigate) it’s a source of pleasure to watch. No one can claim not to feel a frisson of excitement and nostalgia at seeing this last recorded display of the power of live steam. This is how some of our fathers, grandfathers, earned their living, mostly not is seas this benign!

https://vimeo.com/277260483

Notice in the film all the young sailors in Cavalier congregating on the quarterdeck to add weight over the screws (not necessary, they turn in such a way as to bite down into the sea, not the opposite)

Cavalier looks outstandingly smart in the reunion clip, all power to those in Chats DY who are responsible for her.

Both these ships were of the late wartime “emergency class” , all very similar built to the same plans and incorporating all the hard-learned lessons of war at sea in a destroyer. The main difference was the internal accommodation layout. Prior to the planning of this class dating right back to the historical foundation of the RN the officers had lived aft, the men, forrard. Experience of endless seatime showed just how inconvenient this was in modern warfare and it was rearranged so everyone lived as close to the “office” as possible. Officers lived under the bridge, the men nearest possible to their specialist place of work. Remember it was not until the Battle Class, designed for the Pacific, that catwalks from forrard to aft were part of the design, in these earlier ships those needing to make this journey did so on the upper deck (no internal passage) clinging to lifelines as green seas swept over. Rapid and Cavalier were near identical when new, Cavalier had some reconstruction aft but inside, and from the funnel forrard she remains the same, Rapid and I think 25-6 of her sisters were converted to fast anti-submarine frigates to match the improvements in submarine under water speed. What you see of Rapid shows the big changes to superstructure which created an internal passage right through the ship, the Burma Road, making life for all onboard much safer and comfortable.

Enjoy..
Tim [Lewin]
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

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ivorthediver wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:00 pm Thank you David , :idea: Question ......what is causing the shadow towards the top of the starboard hull side before the first scuttle adjacent ? please ......is obviously some form of projection causing that shadow but cant work out what it could be
Apols Ivor, I have only just seen your question, better late than never!
If you click on the photo and then use the 'magnifyer' over the top of the shadow you will see that it is caused by, for want of a better word, a reinforcing strip adjacent to the capstans. Never took notice of them when onboard especially when we were up the Gulf and fried an egg on that area of the ship just to prove it could be done. Record temps that year, 129 in old money. No aircon except in the wardroom and w/t office.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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jbryce1437
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

Pelican wrote: Wed Jul 20, 2022 12:48 pm
ivorthediver wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:00 pm Thank you David , :idea: Question ......what is causing the shadow towards the top of the starboard hull side before the first scuttle adjacent ? please ......is obviously some form of projection causing that shadow but cant work out what it could be
Apols Ivor, I have only just seen your question, better late than never!
If you click on the photo and then use the 'magnifyer' over the top of the shadow you will see that it is caused by, for want of a better word, a reinforcing strip adjacent to the capstans. Never took notice of them when onboard especially when we were up the Gulf and fried an egg on that area of the ship just to prove it could be done. Record temps that year, 129 in old money. No aircon except in the wardroom and w/t office.
I think it is called a Rubbing Strake or Chafing Bar
https://patents.google.com/patent/KR20060119235A/en

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
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ivorthediver
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Thank you Gents , now fully appreciate both the need and the reason they are fitted , but thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to explain this design feature .

Going to have a lay down now and drink a tot as its so long since a post warranting me asking for an explanation on a Naval fitting , so thank you both for recognising the question ;)

I'll go back to viewing now and try not to be a nuisance , again my thanks
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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Pelican
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by Pelican »

ivorthediver wrote: Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:14 pm Thank you Gents , now fully appreciate both the need and the reason they are fitted , but thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to explain this design feature .

Going to have a lay down now and drink a tot as its so long since a post warranting me asking for an explanation on a Naval fitting , so thank you both for recognising the question ;)

I'll go back to viewing now and try not to be a nuisance , again my thanks
Be a nuisance anytime Ivor and hopefully someone will come up with an answer or a pointer as to where it might be - we are here to serve.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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ivorthediver
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Re: HMS Cavalier - History

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Your kindness is only exceeded by your knowledge old bean ;) Thanks David ;) ;)
"What Ever Floats your Boat"
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